Threats awaiting the cargo in road transportation.

Unfortunately, despite GPS tracking systems, security alarms, monitoring centers and much more, the roads are not becoming safer. So today the problem of safe cargo transportation is acute for any business transporting goods by road. The following factors complicate the situation:

1. “Lack of safe parking areas.”

A driver on a rest cannot feel calm even while resting. Theft often occurs in “guarded” parking lots. However, parking lot owners do not bear any responsibility for this.

2. "Semi-trailers with soft walls".

Curtain-type semi-trailers are often used for cargo transportation. This means that it is very easy for a thief to gain access to the cargo.

3."Hijacking".

This the most dangerous situation. The robbers approach the drivers in the parking lot and, threatening with weapons, take away the cargo.

You can’t make a complaint to the driver - life is more valuable than any commodity.

4. "Masquerade".

Another option for an armed attack on a driver is when the robbers put on a police uniform, stop the car, then several armed guys get out of a nearby car...

5. "At the Lunch Stop"

The driver went into a cafe to have lunch. Returns, but there is no cargo. While he was trying the “local cuisine,” a second truck drove up to the car, into which the attackers loaded the goods, and disappeared in an unknown direction. This is especially true for tarpaulin vehicles.

6. "Fast and Furious".

There are such “acrobats” who climb onto the back of a truck without the truck driver seeing it (the attackers’ vehicle is in the blind spot), and rob right on the move, throwing the cargo onto the road.

Behind, at a safe distance, is a car of accomplices who are collecting this cargo. As a rule, something light is stolen this way, for example, boxes of cigarettes.

7. "Fake carriers or forwarders".

Criminals offer their transportation or forwarding services to cargo owners, take the cargo, and then disappear along with the cargo.

8. "Changing the unloading location".

Criminals break into the driver-forwarder connection and change the unloading location. This need is explained by traffic jams, warehouse congestion, etc. Drivers often do not notice the catch and are “led” to such calls. As a result, the scammers take the cargo.

9. "Collusion with drivers".

Unfortunately, such cases occur very often. The driver can work perfectly for four trips, and then disappear on the fifth with the cargo.

Theft of a load is fraught with double losses. In addition to the fact that the cargo owner is deprived of his goods, large quantities of his products are thrown onto the market at a low, dumping price. As a result, sales decrease for some time.

Due to a large number of problems, cargo carriers, forwarders and cargo owners unite in associations, meet at conferences and share experiences.

Together they developed several recommendations that help reduce risks and improve the situation:

- All risks insurance

- Setting of a common base of forwarders, carriers and drivers.

- Installation of satellite monitoring, access control and reliable vehicle locking systems.

According to various cargo carrier associations, this is the optimal set of functions that actually work.

In addition to the monitoring system, the good idea is to install a logistics program in which you can select the most convenient and safe routes for cargo transportation and indicate planned parking lots, thereby providing additional control.

Andrei Lubianitsky

www.fletelock.com